NORFOLK, VA—ODU (13-15/7-6) and Louisiana Tech (22-6/10-3) were tied 51-51 with 6:57 left in the game, when the Bulldogs went on an 8-0 run en route to a 71-66 C-USA victory over the Monarchs at the Ted Constant Convocation Center before a crowd of 6,940. ODU sophomore Aaron Bacote led with 25 points, followed by Dimitri Batten with 17.

In the second half, La Tech led by nine, 43-34 after a three-pointer by Alex Hamilton with 16:14 left in the game. ODU would go on a 15-4 run on a layup by Denzell Taylor for a 51-49 lead. LA Tech tied it at 51-51 on a Hamilton basket, then took off on an 8-0 run to lead 59-51 with 3:32 left in the game.

A three-pointer by Dimitri Batten with 49 seconds left cut the lead to three four times starting at 63-60, but the Bulldogs would finish the game 8-for-8 from the free throw line with the help from Kenyon McNeail, Alex Hamilton and Chris Anderson the final 30 seconds the seal the victory.

In the first half, ODU led by as much as seven, 23-16 with 5:56 left on a Dimitri Batten three pointer before LA Tech battled back to take its first lead at 27-26 on a three-point play by Chris Anderson at 1:41 left in the half. ODU would go into the lockerroom at halftime with a 30-30 tie thanks to a driving layup by Bacote as time ran out.

LA Tech had four players in double figures led by Alex Hamilton with 20 points, Chris Anderson with 19, Kenyon McNeail with 14 and 10 from Jaron Johnson. Kenneth Smith dished out eight assists. LA Tech forced 14 turnovers with ten steals and committed only six.

ODU shot .469 from the floor to LA Tech’s .352, and the Monarchs hit eight (8-14) three-pointers to the Tech's five (5-23), but LA Tech hit 28-34 free throws.

Besides scoring 25 points, Bacote also dished out five assists. Batten grabbed six rebounds to go with his 17 points and Richard Ross hauled down a game best nine rebounds, while freshman Denzell Taylor blocked three shots.

The Monarchs return to action Thursday when they host Marshall at the Constant Center.